Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is focusing on doing his “very best to get on with my job” following multiple threats made against both him and his family, reports RTE.
Gardaí are currently investigating a number of threatening calls that were directed at Mr Harris and his relatives.
The calls, which reportedly included bomb threats, were made through the Telegram app — a platform known for its encryption features that allow users to hide their identities.
The threats were received by Garda stations in both Wicklow and Wexford and are believed to be part of a coordinated effort targeting the Tánaiste and his family, reports RTE.
This marks the third such incident involving threats to his family within a single week.
Last Friday, a direct threat was posted online against a close family member, and earlier that same week, another online threat was made against his children, reports RTE.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the Fine Gael leader described the experience as “a pretty rotten time” for him and his family, saying the threats could not simply be dismissed.
“The vile nature of the threats targeting my children, very close family relatives and the sustained, relentless nature of it, I think and thought needs to be called out,” reports RTE.
“This is not who we are. These are criminal acts and whatever people think of anybody’s politics, I’m a democratically elected member of Dáil Éireann, I’m the leader of a political party and the Tánaiste of this Government,” Mr Harris said, reports RTE.
He continued: “People are entitled to go about their business, as are their families, and free from abuse and criminal behaviour.”
The Wicklow representative affirmed that he remains committed to public service and has not thought about stepping down from his position.
“I don’t mean to be alarmist, but we’ve seen in other jurisdictions, violence against politicians. We’ve seen in this country violence against politicians. And I have a number of jobs. My job as a public representative and my job as a father, and a husband, and I’m trying to balance all of them. But like I say, I’ve dug deep, I’ve turned up and I’m trying to get on with the job,” reports RTE.
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